About Business Network Chicago
Founded in September 2001 by Kirsten Nieradtka and friends, BNC has grown to over 2000 members. Members range in age from early 20's to late 60's. Professions run the gamut from entrepreneurship to mid and senior-level management. In April 2005, David Carman assumed leadership of BNC.
To stay informed of BNC events, visit this website and/or join our listserv. For any additional questions, email David Carman, BNC CEO & President, at davidcarman@bnchicago.org.
History of BNC
| August 17, 2001 | Kirsten Nieradtka, Paul Gump and 10 friends, who have all been recently laid off, are watching the Chicago Air & Water Show on a Friday afternoon. Paul has the idea that it would be great for everyone to get together to help each other with job leads. |
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| September 24, 2001 | Kirsten decides to take Paul up on his idea and organizes the first club meeting. About 10 people show up at Nookies Diner on Wells Street to help each other. The group is called "Nookies Networking." |
| December 2001 | We get too big for Nookies and start meeting at Bar Louie instead. We change our name to "The Breakfast Club" since "Nookies Networking" no longer applies. BNC member, Phil Garofalo, creates a website for our club. |
| April 2002 | Kirsten and Nick Rizzio teach a one-week “boot camp” of the FastTrac New Venture course to 16 BNC members at the Chicagoland Chamber of Commerce Entrepreneurial Center. We get a press release into Crain’s Chicago Business newspaper announcing that the BNC is providing this course. |
| August 2002 | We begin meeting at St. Michael’s Church in Old Town. We are grateful for the quiet meeting space they let us use free of charge. About 30 people start attending each meeting. Paul revamps the website. We purchase a host site and domain name. "The Breakfast Club" is not available as a domain name, so we change our name to "The Breakfast Network Club." |
| 2003 | Breakfast Network Club volunteers take turns hosting Monday morning meetings at St. Michael's and inviting different speakers. Volunteers are: Paul Gump, Dorri Blank, Bob Moliski, Ruby Barth, Terry Kozlowski, Alexandra Sotereanos, Jim Jakala and Bill Ferris. We also host a once-a-month evening event with a speaker. Barry Moltz, entrepreneur and author of You need to be a little crazy (to be an entrepreneur) speaks at a BNC evening meeting and draws a crowd of 90 people. |
| January 2004 | David Carman starts leading BNC Monday morning meetings. |
| July 2004 | Robert Gramillano leads the Monday morning meetings. |
| April 2005 | David Carman assumes leadership of the Breakfast Network Club. |
| April 2006 | The Breakfast Network Club launches its first special interest luncheon |
| July 2007 | The Breakfast Network Club changes its name to Business Network Chicago. |
